Which bone is known as the cheekbone?

The bone known as the cheekbone is the zygoma. This bone helps to form the prominence of the cheek and is an important structure in the facial skeleton. The zygoma articulates with several other bones in the skull, including the maxilla, the frontal bone, and the temporal bone, which contribute to the overall shape and structure of the face.

While the maxilla is the upper jaw bone and plays a role in forming part of the facial structure, it does not specifically account for the prominence of the cheeks as the zygoma does. The lacrimal bone, located in the eye socket, is much smaller and involved mainly in housing the tear duct. The mandible, or lower jawbone, supports the lower teeth and is involved in the movement of the mouth but does not contribute to the cheek region. This distinction makes the zygoma the correct identifier for the cheekbone.